What is a spirit call?

• A. A formal penalty called by a referee for unsportsmanlike conduct.
• B. A self-initiated call used to resolve a dispute in the spirit of fair play.
• C. A signal from the sidelines for a review.
• D. A request to restart play after a foul.

Answer: (B)

Spirit of the Game hinges on players officiating their own play and upholding sportsmanship. A spirit call is a self-initiated decision to address a dispute or unclear call in the spirit of fair play. It isn’t a penalty handed down by a referee; in many games there aren’t referees at all, so players rely on this principle to keep the flow and trust intact. When a call is disputed, a player can propose a spirit call to discuss the situation and reach a fair resolution, then continue the point. This approach emphasizes honesty and respect between teammates and opponents and helps the game move forward smoothly. It isn’t a sideline review or a restart request after a foul; those are different mechanisms, whereas a spirit call is about resolving disagreements through dialogue and mutual agreement.